Ukraine dismissed as " absurd" the terms of the ceasefire, announced today by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and indicated that he is trying to mislead world powers and undermine authentic peace efforts, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Putin said in a speech to the Russian Foreign Ministry that he would end the war in Ukraine if Kiev gave up its ambitions for NATO membership and handed over to Russia all the territories it claims.
Ukraine's foreign ministry said the Russian president's words were "manipulative" and that they "aim to mislead the international community and undermine diplomatic efforts to achieve a just peace". "It is absurd that Putin, who together with his accomplices planned, prepared and carried out the largest armed aggression in Europe since the Second World War, should present himself as a peacemaker," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's aide, Mykhailo Podolyak, rejected Putin's peace proposal, saying it was not a serious attempt at peace and had no connection to any negotiations.
Podolyak told Reuters in an interview via "Zoom" that there is no possibility of finding a compromise between Putin's statement and Ukraine's conditions for ending the war started by Russia.
The Russian president's remarks came on the eve of a conference in Switzerland where Kiev will promote its peace plan, based on the demand that Moscow withdraw all its troops from Ukraine, including the 18 percent of Ukrainian territory currently are occupied by Russian forces.
Moscow was not invited to the forum in Switzerland, where, according to Kiev, representatives of more than 100 countries and organizations, as well as many heads of state, will gather.
According to Podoliak, with his speech delivered immediately before the peace conference, Putin is trying to take the news agenda away from Ukraine. In addition, Zelensky's adviser, who often acts as his spokesman, said that Moscow is also trying to present itself to the world, and especially to the countries of the "Global South", as the country more interested in peace.
"Through his statement, Putin wants to make it look as if they did not start the aggression... as if they are offering peace, and Ukraine does not want it,", Podoliak also said.
He emphasized that Kiev wants peace, but only if Russia suffers a just punishment for its aggression and if Ukrainian sovereignty is preserved.